One of the most acclaimed strategy games of recent years is now free to play online. La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War, winner of the 2024 As d'Or Expert Game award, launched on Board Game Arena today, 15 April.
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See how it worksDesigned by Maximilian Maria Thiel, La Famiglia is a team-based 2v2 area-control game set during the brutal Sicilian mafia wars of the 1980s. Each pair of players controls rival Cosa Nostra factions competing for dominance across the island through a mix of military force and political manoeuvre. The action selection system, built around spending coins to use influence tokens, creates a cat-and-mouse dynamic that rewards planning and communication. Players can resolve conflicts through brute force or "finesse" battles using hidden cards, and the game tracks your influence over four institutions: Justice, Police, Economy, and Church.
It sits at an impressive 8.0 on BoardGameGeek, though getting it to the table in physical form has always been the challenge. Sessions run 90 to 180 minutes, the teach is hefty, and you need exactly four players. BGA solves all of those problems. Shorter playtimes online, automated rules enforcement, and matchmaking mean you can experience a full session without needing to schedule a three-hour evening.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeThe game did attract controversy after its Italian release, with some in Sicily objecting to the mafia theme, but the critical reception has been strongly positive. Meeple Mountain rated it "Great" and recommended it, praising the finesse combat for creating genuinely dramatic moments.
If your group enjoys deep strategy with a competitive edge, this one is worth trying, and it won't cost you a penny on BGA.
Sources: Board Game Arena | BoardGameGeek | Meeple Mountain
